JP2022153817A - Seat hardness adjustment system and seat hardness adjustment method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle seat hardness adjustment system in which seat hardness can be adjusted to a desired seat hardness set by a user regardless of the change over time.SOLUTION: A seat hardness adjustment system for vehicle includes: a rubber bag-like member installed inside a seat; a pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts an internal pressure of the bag-like member; and a control unit that controls the pressure adjustment mechanism on the basis of a demand from a user. The seat hardness is adjusted by adjustment of the internal pressure of the bag member. The seat hardness adjustment system further includes a storage unit that stores data indicating the change over time in a relationship between the internal pressure and the hardness of the bag-like member. The control unit refers to data on the basis of a demand from a user, and controls the internal pressure of the bag-like member to a pressure corresponding to the hardness required by the user.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle seat hardness adjustment system and a seat hardness adjustment method.

Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle provided with a seat adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting seat hardness.

JP 2020-157944 A

The inventors have investigated a technique for adjusting the seat hardness by adjusting the internal pressure of a rubber bag-like member provided inside the seat, and found the following problems.
The hardness of the rubber bag-shaped member changes over time even with the same internal pressure. Therefore, even if a user (for example, a driver) sets the seat hardness to the same hardness, the desired seat hardness cannot be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a vehicle seat hardness adjustment system capable of adjusting a desired seat hardness set by a user regardless of changes over time.

A seat hardness adjustment system according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
a rubber bag-like member installed inside the seat;
a pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts the internal pressure of the bag-like member;
a control unit that controls the pressure adjustment mechanism based on a user's request,
A seat hardness adjustment system for a vehicle, wherein the hardness of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member,
further comprising a storage unit that stores data indicating changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member;
The control section refers to the data based on the user's request, and controls the internal pressure of the bag-like member corresponding to the hardness requested by the user.

A seat hardness adjustment system according to an aspect of the present invention includes a storage unit that stores data indicating changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member, and the control unit, based on a user's request, By referring to the data, the internal pressure of the bag-like member corresponding to the hardness required by the user is controlled. With such a configuration, the desired seat hardness set by the user can be adjusted regardless of changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member and the hardness.

The pressure adjustment mechanism may include a compressor connected to the bag-shaped member, and a pressure reducing valve provided between the bag-shaped member and the compressor. With such a configuration, the internal pressure of the bag-like member can be easily adjusted.

When the seat hardness adjustment system shuts down, the controller may set the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member to atmospheric pressure. Degradation of the rubber bag-like member can be suppressed by keeping the internal pressure of the bag-like member at the atmospheric pressure while the sheet is not used.

The data includes measurement data of changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of a bag-shaped member having the same specifications as the bag-shaped member, and measurement data of hardness of the bag-shaped member placed on the sheet. may be generated based on As the data, the hardness of the sheet can be controlled with higher accuracy than using the measurement data of the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and the hardness of the bag-shaped member having the same specifications as the bag-shaped member.

Further, the measurement data of the hardness of the bag-shaped member placed on the sheet may be measured for each predetermined manufacturing lot. With such a configuration, it is possible to reduce the number of hardness measurements during manufacturing.

A sheet hardness adjustment method according to an aspect of the present invention includes:
A vehicle seat hardness adjustment method for adjusting the hardness of a seat by adjusting the internal pressure of a rubber bag-shaped member installed inside the seat based on a user's request, comprising:
storing in advance data indicating changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member;
Based on the user's request, the data is referred to, and the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member is controlled to correspond to the hardness requested by the user.

In the seat hardness adjustment method according to one aspect of the present invention, data indicating changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member is stored in advance, and the data is referred to based on a user's request, The internal pressure of the bag-like member is controlled to correspond to the hardness requested by the user. With such a configuration, the desired seat hardness set by the user can be adjusted regardless of changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member and the hardness.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle seat hardness adjustment system capable of adjusting the desired seat hardness set by the user regardless of changes over time.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a seat hardness adjustment system according to a first embodiment; FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a control unit in the seat hardness adjustment system according to the first embodiment; FIG. 4 is a schematic graph of measurement data of change over time of the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member. 4 is a schematic graph of data stored in a storage unit and showing changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Also, for clarity of explanation, the following description and drawings are simplified as appropriate.

(First embodiment)
<Configuration of seat hardness adjustment system>
First, a seat hardness adjustment system according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the seat hardness adjustment system according to the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the seat hardness adjustment system according to this embodiment is a seat hardness adjustment system for a vehicle such as an automobile, and includes a seat 10, a control unit 20, and a pressure adjustment mechanism 30. . Therefore, the seat 10, the control unit 20, and the pressure adjustment mechanism 30 are all mounted on the vehicle.

The seat 10 is, but not limited to, a driver's seat, for example. Here, inside the sheet 10, a bag-like member BM made of rubber is installed. The hardness of the sheet 10 is adjusted by adjusting the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM. Specifically, the higher the internal pressure of the bag-like member BM, the harder the sheet 10 becomes.

The control unit 20 generates a control signal cs (cs1 to cs3) and controls the pressure adjustment mechanism 30 based on a user's (eg, driver's) request rq. The user request rq is an input signal corresponding to the seat hardness set by the user. The user's request rq is input via, for example, a touch panel, buttons, or the like (not shown) provided on the dashboard of the vehicle, although it is not limited in any way.

Here, FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the controller in the seat hardness adjustment system according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 20 includes, as hardware, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 21, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 22, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 23, and an I/O (Input/Output) 24. It has

The CPU 21 is, for example, a calculation unit that performs control processing, calculation processing, and the like, and generates control signals cs (cs1 to cs3) based on control programs, calculation programs, and the like.
ROM22 is a memory|storage part which memorize|stores a control program, an arithmetic program, etc. which are performed by CPU21, for example.
The RAM 23 is a storage unit that temporarily stores processing data and the like.
The I/O 24 is an input/output device that inputs data and signals from the outside and outputs data and signals to the outside.
That is, the control unit 20 has a function as a computer, and performs seat hardness adjustment processing based on the control program and the like.

Here, in the seat hardness adjustment system according to the present embodiment, the ROM 22 or RAM 23, which is a storage unit, stores data indicating temporal changes in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member BM. Based on the user's request rq, the control unit 20 refers to the data and controls the internal pressure of the bag-like member BM corresponding to the seat hardness requested by the user. Therefore, the desired seat hardness set by the user can be adjusted regardless of the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM and the hardness.
Note that the storage unit in which the data is stored is not limited to the ROM 22 or the RAM 23, and may be provided outside the control unit 20. FIG. Details of the data will be described later.

The pressure adjustment mechanism 30 adjusts the internal pressure of the bag-like member BM based on the control signal cs (cs1 to cs3) output from the control section 20. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the pressure regulating mechanism 30 includes a compressor CMP, a pressure reducing valve V1, and an exhaust valve V2. Although the configuration of the pressure adjustment mechanism 30 is not particularly limited, the configuration can easily adjust the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM.

The compressor CMP is connected to the bag-shaped member BM by piping. The compressor CMP compresses air (AIR_IN) taken in from outside the system and supplies it to the bag-shaped member BM. The control unit 20 controls the operation of the compressor CMP, such as driving, stopping, rotation speed, and the like. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the compressor CMP is controlled by a control signal cs1 output from the control section 20. FIG.

The pressure reducing valve V1 is a valve for reducing the pressure of the air compressed by the compressor CMP and supplying it to the bag-shaped member BM. Therefore, the pressure reducing valve V1 is provided on the pipe between the compressor CMP and the bag-like member BM. When air is supplied to the bag-like member BM to raise the internal pressure, the exhaust valve V2 is closed. The control unit 20 controls the opening/closing and opening degree of the pressure reducing valve V1. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the pressure reducing valve V1 is controlled by the control signal cs2 output from the control section 20 so that the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM becomes a desired pressure.

The exhaust valve V2 is a valve for releasing air (AIR_OUT) from the inside of the bag-like member BM to the outside of the system. Therefore, the exhaust valve V2 is provided on a branched pipe between the bag-like member BM and the pressure reducing valve V1. When releasing air from the inside of the bag-shaped member BM to the outside of the system, the pressure reducing valve V1 is closed and the exhaust valve V2 is opened. The control unit 20 controls the opening/closing and opening degree of the exhaust valve V2. In the example shown in FIG. 1, the operation of the exhaust valve V2 is controlled by the control signal cs3 output from the control section 20. As shown in FIG.

For example, when the seat hardness adjustment system according to this embodiment shuts down, the controller 20 closes the pressure reducing valve V1 and opens the exhaust valve V2 to bring the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM to the atmospheric pressure. By setting the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM to atmospheric pressure while the sheet 10 is not used, deterioration of the rubber-made bag-shaped member BM can be suppressed.

<Data showing changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the details of the data showing the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-like member will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic graph of measurement data of the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member. FIG. 4 is a schematic graph of data stored in the storage unit, showing changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-like member.

The horizontal axis of FIG. 3 indicates the elapsed time from the manufacture of the bag-like member, and the vertical axis indicates the hardness of the bag-like member. FIG. 3 shows changes over time in hardness at different internal pressures X, Y, and Z [hPa] of the bag-shaped member. Each point arranged in a straight line indicates measurement data. The magnitude relationship among X, Y, Z and the atmospheric pressure is atmospheric pressure<Z<Y<X. That is, the higher the internal pressure, the higher the hardness of the bag-shaped member. The data shown in FIG. 3 are obtained by measuring the hardness of the bag-like member at internal pressures X, Y, Z [hPa] at each elapsed time.

As a matter of course, the data shown in FIG. 3 cannot be obtained by using the bag-like member BM installed on the seat 10. FIG. Therefore, for example, the data shown in FIG. 3 is acquired using a bag-shaped member having the same specifications as the bag-shaped member BM installed on the seat 10 . In other words, the bag-shaped member is used only for acquiring data on changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member, and is not used as a product. The hardness of the bag-like member can be measured by, for example, a sheet-like pressure-sensitive sensor that can be attached to the surface of the bag-like member.

It should be noted that FIG. 3 is only a schematic diagram and does not show actual measurement results.
In addition, in practice, data is acquired at more internal pressures than just the three internal pressures X, Y, and Z [hPa].
Furthermore, in the example shown in FIG. 3, the rubber bag-shaped member softens with the passage of time from manufacture, and the hardness of the bag-shaped member decreases at any internal pressure. On the other hand, it is possible that the rubber bag-shaped member hardens with the lapse of time from its manufacture, and the hardness of the bag-shaped member increases.

FIG. 4 is a graph of data showing temporal changes in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member. This data is stored in the storage section (ROM 22, RAM 23) of the control section 20. FIG. The data shown in FIG. 4 are the measurement data of the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and the hardness of the bag-shaped member shown in FIG. It is generated based on the measured data. The sheet hardness can be controlled more accurately than using the measurement data of the change with time of the relationship between the internal pressure and the hardness of the bag-like member shown in FIG. 3 as it is.
As the data indicating the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member stored in the storage unit, the measurement data of the change over time of the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member shown in FIG. may be used.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the three straight lines related to the internal pressures X, Y, and Z [hPa], only the hardness at the time of manufacture is measured data, and the other portions are predicted data. The measurement data of the hardness at the time of manufacture may be measured for all products of the bag-shaped member, or may be measured for each predetermined production lot. By measuring each predetermined production lot, the number of hardness measurements during production can be reduced.

Here, the slope of the straight line at the internal pressure X [hPa] shown in FIG. 3 is used as the slope of the straight line at the internal pressure X [hPa] shown by the dashed line in FIG. Similarly, the internal pressure Y , Z[hPa] is used.

Based on the user's request rq, the control unit 20 refers to the data shown in FIG. 4 and controls the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member to correspond to the sheet hardness requested by the user (that is, the bag-shaped member's hardness). . As shown in FIG. 4, the internal pressure set for the user's request rq changes according to the elapsed time from manufacture.

The example shown in FIG. 4 will be described in detail. Here, let t be the elapsed time from manufacture, and P be the internal pressure of the bag-like member BM.
At t<T1, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to a predetermined value that satisfies P<Z [hPa].
At the elapsed time t=T1, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to Z [hPa].
At T1<t<T2, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to a predetermined value that satisfies Z[hPa]<P<Y[hPa].

At t=T2, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to Y [hPa].
At T2<t<T3, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to a predetermined value that satisfies Y[hPa]<P<X[hPa].
At t=T3, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to X [hPa].
When t>T3, the controller 20 controls the internal pressure P to a predetermined value that satisfies P>X [hPa].

As described above, in the seat hardness adjustment system according to the present embodiment, the storage unit stores data indicating temporal changes in the relationship between the internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member BM. Based on the user's request rq, the control unit 20 refers to the data and controls the internal pressure of the bag-like member BM corresponding to the seat hardness requested by the user. With such a configuration, the desired seat hardness set by the user can be adjusted regardless of changes over time in the relationship between the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member BM and the hardness.

In the above examples, the various control programs can be stored and provided to the computer using various types of non-transitory computer readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include various types of tangible storage media. Examples of non-transitory computer readable media include magnetic recording media (eg, floppy disks, magnetic tapes, hard disk drives), magneto-optical recording media (eg, magneto-optical discs), CD-ROMs, CD-Rs, CD-R/Ws , semiconductor memory (eg, mask ROM, PROM (Programmable ROM), EPROM (Erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM). The program may also be delivered to the computer on various types of transitory computer readable medium. Examples of transitory computer-readable media include electrical signals, optical signals, and electromagnetic waves. Transitory computer-readable media can deliver the program to the computer via wired channels, such as wires and optical fibers, or wireless channels.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the scope of the invention.

10 Seat 20 Control Unit 30 Pressure Regulating Mechanism BM Bag-like Member CMP Compressor V1 Pressure Reducing Valve V2 Exhaust Valve

Claims (6)

a rubber bag-like member installed inside the seat;
a pressure adjustment mechanism that adjusts the internal pressure of the bag-like member;
a control unit that controls the pressure adjustment mechanism based on a user's request,
A seat hardness adjustment system for a vehicle, wherein the hardness of the seat is adjusted by adjusting the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member,
further comprising a storage unit that stores data indicating changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member;
The control unit refers to the data based on the user's request, and controls the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member corresponding to the hardness requested by the user.
Seat hardness adjustment system. The pressure adjustment mechanism is
a compressor connected to the bag-like member;
a pressure reducing valve provided between the bag-shaped member and the compressor,
The seat hardness adjustment system according to claim 1. When the seat hardness adjustment system shuts down,
The control unit sets the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member to atmospheric pressure,
The seat hardness adjustment system according to claim 1 or 2. Said data is
generated on the basis of measurement data of changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of a bag-shaped member having the same specifications as the bag-shaped member, and measurement data of hardness of the bag-shaped member placed on the sheet; Ru
The seat hardness adjustment system according to any one of claims 1-3. The measurement data of the hardness of the bag-shaped member installed on the sheet is measured for each predetermined production lot.
The seat hardness adjustment system according to claim 4. A vehicle seat hardness adjustment method for adjusting the hardness of a seat by adjusting the internal pressure of a rubber bag-shaped member installed inside the seat based on a user's request, comprising:
storing in advance data indicating changes over time in the relationship between internal pressure and hardness of the bag-shaped member;
based on the user's request, referring to the data and controlling the internal pressure of the bag-shaped member corresponding to the hardness requested by the user;
Sheet hardness adjustment method.

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